Tag: Racing

A full field of 12 older horses square off in Sunday's 87th running of the $150,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

Background drew the No. 4 post-position and was made a 2 to 1 morning line favorite in his bid to become the fifth two-time Mile winner, and just the second at Emerald Downs. Trained by Mike Puhich for Bob and Molly Rondeau of Normandy Park, the 5-year-old Florida-bred is 6-3-4 in 20 career starts with earnings of $430,488 including a 4-1-1 record in six starts at a mile.

“He's had a bit of a gap between races, and he runs really well fresh,” Puhich said of Background. “Unfortunately, Rocco Bowen won't be here to ride him, but Rocco breezed him last week and was really pleased with the work.

“If (Background's) as good on Sunday as he is this morning, he's going to be a tough customer.”

A three-time Emerald Downs' riding champion, Bowen guided Background to an emotional come from behind victory in the 2021 Mile but was injured Monday at Presque Isle Downs and underwent surgery Wednesday for a broken clavicle and is sidelined indefinitely.

Geovanni Franco, who rode Background to victories at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs this spring, rides Background along with probable favorite Princess of Cairo in the $75,000 Emerald Distaff and Big Java in the $75,000 Washington Oaks.

Majestic Eagle, from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, is 4 to 1 second choice on the morning line. A 7-year-old Medaglia d'Oro gelding, Majestic Eagle is an accomplished turf horse but unproven on dirt. Owned by Seattle locals Ray Morton and John Lindley, Majestic Eagle ships north after firing two bullet drills on Del Mar's main track.

Trainer Blaine Wright has been in the thick of the Longacres Mile the last four years, compiling a win and three seconds since 2018, and saddles Top Executive, Huge Bigly, and Torpedo Away in this year's race. The reigning Emerald Downs' Horse of the Meeting, John and Janene Maryanski and Riverbend Stable's Top Executive is 6-1-0 in 11 career starts including a sparkling 5-1-0 from eight starts at Emerald Downs with four stakes wins. A 4-year-old Street Boss gelding, Top Executive is one for one routing on dirt, capturing the 2021 Muckleshoot Derby at a mile and one-sixteenth.

Todd and Shawn Hansen's Huge Bigly is one of six Washington-breds in this year's Mile (Huge Bigly, Papa's Golden Boy, Slew's Tiz Whiz, Spittin Image, Torpedo, Away Unmachable). A 5-year-old by Midshipman out of the Emerald Downs' stakes winning mare Gadget Queen, Hug Bigly earned over $140,000 in 2021 and showed versatility in winning on synthetic at Golden Gate, turf at Colonial Downs, and dirt at Churchill Downs.

Slew's Tiz Whiz enters the Mile in peak form for trainer Tom Wenzel. The 4-year-old Slew's Tiznow gelding has won consecutive sprints including a come from behind score in the Governor's Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs. He won a one-mile allowance last year at age 3.

Lusk Racing's Papa's Golden Boy, the dominant sprinter at Emerald Downs the last two years, drew the No. 12 post-position and figures to be flying early under jockey Kevin Radke. The 6-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding held on well last year and was beaten just 2 ¼ lengths while finishing fourth to Background.

Elttaes Stable's Five Star General has figured prominently the last two years, finishing second to Anothertwistafate in 2020 and third to background in 2021. His jockey, Leslie Mawing, and trainer, Doris Harwood, have both previously won the Mile.

Spittin Image hails from the barn of the meet's leading owner, John Parker, and comes off a third in the Governor's Stakes. Unamachable, a stakes winner here at ages 2 and 3, is two for two this year with both wins in Arizona.

Torpedo Away is winless in two tries around two turns, but the 6-year-old Jake La Gold gelding ran the meet's fastest 6 ½ furlongs, 1:14.26, two weeks ago. Hard to Deny finished eighth in the 2021 Mile and is 3-1-1 in six starts at a flat mile. Kingmeister, a recent $50,000 claim at Churchill Downs, gives 94-year-old trainer Bob Meeking his first Mile starter since 1979.

Entries also were drawn Wednesday for the $75,000 Emerald Distaff, $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $75,000 Washington Oaks. A special $0.50 Pick 4 will be offered on the four Championship Sunday stakes with ideal racing conditions—78 degrees and clear—forecast.

Bob Fraser, longtime Emerald Downs' Vice President of Operations, is Honorary Steward for the 87th Longacres Mile.

$150,000 Longacres Mile
Sunday, August 14
1: Slew's Tiz Whiz, Jose Zunino, 8/1
2: Top Executive, Evin Roman, 6/1
3: Majestic Eagle, Declan Cannon, 4/1
4: Background, Geovanni Franco, 2/1
5: Kingmeister, Javier Matias, 30/1
6: Huge Bigly, Eddie Martinez, 8/1
7: Unmachable, Kevin Orozco, 15/1
8: Hard to Deny, Jake Samuels, 30/1
9: Torpedo Away, Alex Cruz, 20/1
10: Five Star General, Leslie Mawing, 12/1
11: Spittin Image, Juan Gutierrez, 15/1
12: Papa's Golden Boy, Kevin Radke, 10/1

The post Background Faces Full Field To Defend His Title In Longacres Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Emerging stars Gulfport and Damon's Mound will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Cliff and Michele Love's Florida homebred Damon's Mound will provide trainer Michelle Lovell her first starter at Saratoga. Lovell, who was a jockey from 1989-94 and also in 1999, went out on her own as a conditioner in 2003. She will be in search of her first win at the Spa after finishing second on three occasions as a jockey in 1993.

“It's really special,” said Lovell. “I've been there a few times and rode a handful of races there many moons ago, so I had the experience of being on the track and being in awe of the beautiful place that it is. But this is a whole new look and I'm really looking forward to it.”

Damon's Mound, by Girvin and out of the multiple stakes-placed Stroll mare San Antonio Stroll, broke slowly in his July 2 debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs under returning rider Gabriel Saez. He tracked four wide before taking command through a half-mile in 45.49 and drew off to a 12 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:09.84.

“We knew he was good, but we didn't know he'd win like he did because he did it in hand so easily,” said Lovell of the winning effort that garnered an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Lovell said the slow start wasn't unexpected.

“The only thing he struggled with in the morning was getting away from the gate fast, but as soon as he got out he was up on his feet,” Lovell said. “So, it wasn't a surprise but he did gather himself and get on the bridle and put himself right in the race easily. Even on the gallop out, he widened.”

Damon's Mound was prepared in Florida by David O'Farrell at Ocala Stud – where Girvin stands – before joining up with Lovell.

“I had communication with the owner for months in advance that he was going to send me a 2-year-old and every time he checked in, which was pretty much monthly, he'd tell me he's doing good and on track and that he's a nice colt,” Lovell said. “When he showed up at the barn, he looked like a very nice individual and he's just been awesome. He's been fun to train and watch develop.”

Damon's Mound has breezed four times at Colonial Downs out of his debut win, including a bullet five-eighths in 58.40 on July 23.

“The fast works were in hand. He's pretty push button anyway,” Lovell said. “He always does everything really easily. He hasn't been asked for anything yet. We'll find out Saturday as he'll probably have to be asked now running against some really nice horses.”

When prompted that it would be a good story should Damon's Mound provide Lovell her first Spa win in her first attempt, the conditioner remained cautiously optimistic.

“I hope it's a great story,” said Lovell, with a laugh. “I think he'll run well. I'm excited about him. I have a lot of confidence in him. He's a nice colt.”

Damon's Mound will leave from post 2.

William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm's Gulfport has won both career starts, including a 12 1/4-length score last out in the Bashford Manor on July 4 at Churchill Downs. The $275,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale purchase made every pole a winning one in the six-furlong test, stopping the clock in 1:09.25 while easily besting returning rival Owen's Leap to garner a field-high 91 Beyer.

The Uncle Mo colt is trained by Steve Asmussen, who is one win shy of fellow Hall of Famer James G. Rowe Sr.'s record six wins in the prestigious test which was inaugurated in 1901. Asmussen's Saratoga Special victors include Cuvee [2003], Kodiak Kowboy [2007], Kantharos [2010], Copper Bullet [2017] and Jackie's Warrior [2020].

Gulfport is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Fame and Fortune, who is a full sister to 2013 Grade 1 Whitney winner Cross Traffic.

Joel Rosario, who will pilot Gulfport from post 4, has notched 10 graded stakes wins this summer at Saratoga and is one win shy of the meet record of 11 graded scores currently shared by Hall of Famers Javier Castellano and John Velazquez.

Valenzan Day, trained and co-owned by Rudy Rodriguez with Celeritas Racing, is the most experienced entrant with a record of 3-1-0-1.

The Khozan colt made his first two starts at Belmont Park, graduating in May in a five-furlong maiden special weight before running third in the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont. He enters from a troubled ninth last out in the six-furlong Grade 3 Sanford on July 16 at the Spa where he lost his footing at the start from the outermost post 12 and never threatened.

Trevor McCarthy picks up the mount from post 3 aboard Valenzan Day, who adds blinkers.

Lea Farms' Super Chow, by Lord Nelson, posted a gate-to-wire score in his July 2 debut sprinting five furlongs at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jorge Delgado. The $75,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, who was piloted by Chantal Sutherland, covered the distance in 58.49 to garner a 66 Beyer.

Luis Saez has the call from the inside post.

Rounding out the field is Michael McLoughlin's Owen's Leap, a debut maiden winner in May at Churchill Downs for trainer Tom Amoss, who entered Wednesday with 3,999 career wins.

The Bolt d'Oro colt, a $175,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, enters from a distant second to Gulfport in the Bashford Manor.

The Spa's leading rider, Irad Ortiz, Jr., will pilot Owen's Leap, who adds blinkers, from post 5.

The Saratoga Special is slated as Race 4 on Saturday's 11-race card which also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave, offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile, in Race 10. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Damon’s Mound, Gulfport To Square Off In Saratoga Special appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Set Piece (GB) arrived in the United States two years ago to the care of multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, and since then owner Juddmonte has been rewarded with seven victories. The one missing link in Set Piece's résumé is a Grade 1 win but Cox hopes that could change in Saturday's $1 million Arlington Million (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Set Piece recorded seven of his 10 lifetime victories in the barn of Cox, most notably winning last year's $250,000 Wise Dan (G2) by a half-length over Somelikeithotbrown. The son of Dansili (GB) came 1 ½ lengths from Grade 1 glory in last year's $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga but was defeated by the sensational mare Got Stormy.

“He's been training very well up at Saratoga and we were between running him back in this year's Fourstardave or going back to Churchill for the Arlington Million,” Cox said. “He's had a lot of success at Churchill and hopefully on Saturday he can add a Grade I win to his résumé.”

Set Piece arrived to Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning and had a 1 ½-mile gallop Wednesday under exercise rider Fernando Espinoza.

In his last start, Set Piece finished a disappointing fifth in the $175,000 Forbidden Apple (G3) as the 2-1 betting favorite. Through 15 starts with Cox, Set Piece has gone to post as the favorite 10 times. Set Piece was made the 4-1 third choice by morning line oddsmaker Mike Battaglia in the Arlington Million.

Here's the complete Arlington Million field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

1. Set Piece (GB) (Geroux, Cox, 4-1)
2. Sacred Life (FR) (Manny Franco, Chad Brown, 9-2)
3. Field Pass (Rey Gutierrez, Mike Maker, 8-1)
4. Smooth Like Strait (John Velazquez, Michael McCarthy, 5-2)
5. Megacity (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker, 15-1)
6. Santin (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh, 3-1)
7. Admission Office (Brian Hernandez Jr., Brian Lynch, 10-1)
8. Cavalry Charge (David Cohen, Dallas Stewart, 20-1)
9. Cellist (Corey Lanerie, Rusty Arnold, 15-1)

The Arlington Million will be conducted in Lane 1 on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Saturday's first post at Churchill Downs is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Arlington Million will go as the Race 11 finale at 6:25 p.m.

Thanks to cooperation from Ellis Park, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Kentucky horsemen, the 1 1/8-mile Arlington Million, which annually attracts some of the nation's elite turf stars age 3-years-old and up, will be staged at Churchill Downs for the first time in a special stand-alone, one-day, summertime event at the historic Louisville racetrack. Previously, it was run at Arlington Park until the racetrack closed in 2021.

Saturday will mark only the fifth time in Churchill Downs' 148-year history that racing at the home of the Kentucky Derby will take place in August. In 1983-84, Churchill Downs hosted extended 93-day Spring Meets that ran from late April through Labor Day. The famed track also hosted Fall Meets in 1895 and 1922 that began on Aug. 24 and Aug. 30, respectively. (Editor's note: the Churchill Downs communications team inadvertently left out the 1895 and 1922 meets in Tuesday's Arlington Million advance).

Saturday's unique 11-race program will be co-headlined by the $500,000 Beverly D. (G1) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The Beverly D. is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Filly & Mare Turf Division” race. The card will also include the $200,000 Fort Larned Stakes and the $200,000 Lady Tak Stakes.

Fans can still purchase tickets for Arlington Million Day. For ticket options and more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

Wagering is available for the Arlington Million and every race from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc. and the Kentucky Derby.

The post Set Piece Aims To Add Grade 1 To His Resume In Arlington Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post